Motor vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a motor vehicle ( 1 ) provided with a roof ( 2 ) comprising at least one part ( 3 ) thereof which is fully movable for the opening thereof and extends from an area adjacent to a wind screen frame ( 4 ) to the rear particularly rigid part ( 5 ) of the roof transversely covering the entire width between the upper edges of the side windows ( 7 ) of said motor vehicle. The inventive motor vehicle is characterised in that the movable part ( 3 ) of the roof can be arranged in the fully opened prosition thereof ahove the rear rigid part ( 5 ) of the roof.

The invention concerns a motor vehicle with a roof, which has at leastone part that is fully movable to allow the roof to be opened and thatoccupies the entire width in the transverse direction of the roofbetween the upper edges of the side windows, in accordance with theintroductory clause of claim 1, and a motor vehicle in accordance withthe introductory clause of claim 2.

DE 199 26 474 A1 describes a convertible that allows two roof positions,namely, a completely closed position and a completely open position,especially in a high construction vehicle. To this end, the roof isdivided transversely into several roof sections arranged one behind theother. However, besides the two specified roof positions, no others arepossible. The rear roof part serves as an upper covering for a cover ofthe folding-top compartment and thus necessarily makes an acute anglewith the direction of travel as it is opened. As a result, it presents,a large surface of attack to the airflow over the vehicle, so that theconversion of the roof from its closed position to its open position andvice versa must be carried out with the vehicle stopped or nearlystopped. The opening or closing takes a long time, because it isnecessary not only to stow the front roof parts below the cover of thefolding-top compartment when the roof is being opened or remove themfrom this location when the roof is being closed, but also to move thefolding-top compartment as a whole down or up, respectively.

The invention is based on the problem of creating a motor vehicle thathas a high degree of flexibility with respect to the opening of the roofparts.

The invention solves this problem with a motor vehicle that has thefeatures of claim 1 and with a motor vehicle that has the features ofclaim 2. Advantageous modifications of the invention are specified inthe dependent claims 3 to 12.

The design in accordance with claim 1 permits a lowered position of theopened front roof part in which reduction of the trunk space in the rearsection of the vehicle is completely avoided. At the same time, due tothe fact that the width of the lowered roof part extends to the sidewindows, a good open-air feeling can be produced, especially if the sidewindows are also lowered when the roof part is open. The front roof partcan be opened quickly, since basically only a roof section that ishorizontal in the closed state of the roof must be moved, while the roofotherwise remains motionless.

In the design in accordance with claim 2, the lowered position of theopened roof part can be selected, for example, after the trunk has beenloaded. It is also possible, say, for a short-distance trip, to select aquick roof opening, in which the air resistance of the vehicle may thenpossibly be increased, or for a long-distance trip, to select the secondlowered position of the roof, in which the opened roof part is storedbelow the rear roof part.

In accordance with the invention, the movable roof part either canconsist of rigid roof parts or can be covered with a textile covering.

Whether the rear roof part can also be lowered into the automobile bodyto create a convertible, or only a partial opening of the roof is toremain possible, e.g., in the manner of a targa-top vehicle, isindependent of the type of roof part lowering of the invention.Therefore, this type of lowering can be used for a wide variety of roofsand thus allows maximum flexibility.

It is advantageous that it is also possible for the rear roof part of avehicle to be optionally lowered, or, if, for example, more storagespace is needed, to remain in the targa position.

Even when the lowered front roof part is held below the rear roof part,a rigid, stationary—and thus less expensive—roll bar can remain inplace. The roll bar can be mounted on the automobile body independentlyof the roof parts that are to be moved. A space for the passage of thefront roof part that is to be lowered is advantageously created betweenthe roll bar and the opened rear roof part.

It is especially advantageous to create another opening possibility forthe front, movable roof part, in which only the rear section of thelatter is raised. As a result of the fact that when the rear section ofthis roof part is raised, the roof part remains otherwise closed, anespecially low-draft ventilation position can be realized. The totalopening movement does not have to be initiated to allow the partialopening in the rear section, so that the mechanism for the partialopening can be kept simple. Another advantage is that the airflow attacksurface is minimized, so that the movement into the raised position andthe return movement are also possible while the vehicle is moving, evenat high speeds.

Other advantages and features of the invention are apparent from thespecific embodiment of the object of the invention that is illustratedin the drawings and described below.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic, perspective overall view of a motor vehicle ofthe invention with the roof closed but without the textile roofcovering.

FIG. 2 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the rear end of thefront roof part raised.

FIG. 3 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 2 with the rear roof partswung upward.

FIG. 3 a shows the same state of movement of the roof as FIG. 3 but withthe textile covering of the front roof part partially drawn.

FIG. 4 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 3 with the opening of theroof progressing by the front roof part being swung up and folded.

FIG. 5 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 4 in a nearly horizontal andcompletely folded position of the front roof part.

FIG. 6 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 5 in a nearly verticalintermediate position of the front roof part in the automobile body.

FIG. 7 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 6 with the front roofsection swung further in to reach its lowered position in the automobilebody.

FIG. 8 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 7 with the position of thefront roof part unchanged and the rear roof part swung back into itsoriginal position.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative lowered position of the front roof partabove the rear roof part.

FIG. 10 shows the lowered position according to FIG. 9 but in a sideview of the vehicle.

FIG. 11 shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to FIG. 2in a schematic side view.

FIG. 12 shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to FIG. 4in a schematic side view.

FIG. 13 shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to FIG. 5in a schematic side view.

FIG. 14 shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to FIG. 6in a schematic side view.

FIG. 15 shows the roof linkage in the roof position between FIGS. 6 and7 in a schematic side view.

FIG. 16 shows the roof linkage in the roof position according to FIG. 7in a schematic side view.

The roof parts 3 and 5 can be moved independently of each other. Theroof part 3 is movably connected with the automobile body by laterallinkages 13, each of which is designed as a four-bar linkage. In thisregard, each side of the vehicle is provided with two linkages 14, 15,which are pivoted on bearings 16, 17 that are fixed with respect to theautomobile body. Details of this are illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 16.

The linkage 15 acts on a joint 20 of the front roof part 3 by means of adrive element 18. The joint 20 is assigned to the rear end of thelongitudinally extending frame part 11. The linkage 14, on the otherhand, acts indirectly on the frame part 11 by means of a horizontalpivot axis 19 that is located at a vertically higher level. The heightdisplacement of the points of force application 18 and 20 results in alever arm, by which the frame part 11, when the drive element 18 ismoved out, can be swiveled in the direction of arrow 21 about the axis19, which remains motionless to effect the first lowered position of theroof. In this way, the front roof part 3 can be opened into the firstlowered position (FIGS. 11 to 13).

In addition, the linkages 14 and 15 can also be swiveled about the axes16 and 17, which are fixed with respect to the automobile body, in thedirections of arrows 22, 23 and in the opposite directions (FIGS. 14 to16).

The linkage 14 is divided into sections 14 a and 14 b at at least oneadditional joint 24. Section 14 a extends from the main bearing 16,which is fixed with respect to the automobile body, to the joint 24, andsection 14 b extends from there to the axis 19. The linkage 15 isdivided at at least two joints 25, 26. Section 15 a extends from themain bearing 17, which is fixed with respect to the automobile body, tothe joint 26, section 15 b extends from there to the other joint 25, andsection 15 c extends from there to the drive element 18. The pivotedattachment of section 15 c to the drive element 18 is located on acommon horizontal pivot axis with the joint 24 of the first linkage 14.

In the present embodiment, a rear transverse roof bow 27, which can bemoved relative to the lateral frame parts 10, 11 and is mounted on twolevers 28, 29 that extend parallel to the frame part 11, is assigned tothe roof section 3, which is covered with a textile material. By raisingthese levers, the roof bow 27 can be displaced with unchangedorientation essentially parallel upward and forward with respect to thetravel direction F. This results in the raising of the rear edge regionof the roof part 3, so that a ventilation position is reached. Thisposition can also be set during travel, since the movement of the levers28, 29 does not require much force, and the textile covering 9 (FIG. 3a), which then rises only in the rear section, presents only a smallsurface of attack to the airflow over the vehicle. Therefore, theopening and closing of this ventilation opening can also be carried outat high speed. The movement of the roof bow 27 takes very little time.In its normal lowered position, the roof bow 27 clamps the covering 9and seals its rear termination against the rear roof part 5.

To convert the movable roof part 3 from the closed position shown inFIG. 1 to the first open position shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 13, in whichit is held above the rear roof part 5, the roof bow 27—and thus the rearend of the movable roof part 3—is first raised (FIG. 2, FIG. 11). Inthis position, the roof part 3 can be moved relative to the rear roofpart 5. The rear roof part 5 remains unmoved during this process, incontrast to the adjustment of the second lowered position according toFIGS. 3 to 8. As is clear from the transition from FIG. 11 to FIG. 12,first the drive element 18 is moved out to initiate the upward swivelingmovement of the roof part 3 about the axis 19 in the direction of arrow21. At the same time, a linkage part 30 forces the parts 3 a and 3 b tofold about the separating line 8. In the illustrated embodiment, theframe sections 10, 11 are each hinged together by hinges near the edges.

In this process, the linkages 14, 15 are not swiveled about theirbearings 16, 17, which are fixed with respect to the automobile body.The bearing 24 thus maintains its position, as does the pivot axis 19.

When the drive element 18 is moved out further, the roof part 3 bswivels farther in the direction of arrow 21 until an flip-over positionhas been reached. At the same time, parts 3 a and 3 b are foldedtogether until they lie almost parallel one above the other (FIGS. 9,10, 13).

Since the axis 19 maintains its position, the roof parts 3 a, 3 b alsodo not change their vertical position in the direction of a lowering tothe belt line 31 but rather are lowered in the elevated position abovethe rear roof part 5. As FIG. 10 shows, the stack of the front roof part3 formed in this way is sufficiently short in the longitudinal directionof the vehicle that it does hot extend beyond the rear roof part or thusbeyond the rear end of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the folded stack, in which the frame parts 10 and 11 lieone on top of the other, is very flat, so that the air resistance of thevehicle is only slightly increased by this lowered position of the roof.As a result of the fact that only a part 3 of the roof 2 is moved andthat it is moved only in one plane, the movement is accomplished muchfaster than a full opening or a lowering of the roof part 3 below thebelt line 31. The trunk is unaffected by this, as is visibility to therear. Nevertheless, with the side windows down, a spacious open-airfeeling is obtained. In this lowered position of the roof, the rear roofpart 5 is in the same position as when the roof is completely closed(FIG. 1).

On the other hand, to convert the movable roof part 3 from the closedposition shown in FIG. 1 to the second open position shown in FIGS. 8and 16, in which it is held below the rear roof part 5, once again theroof bow 27—and thus the rear end of the movable roof part 3—is firstraised (FIG. 2, FIG. 11). In this position, the roof part 3 can be movedrelative to the rear roof part 5. The rear roof part 3 is then swiveledto the rear, either completely or with the lateral parts 5 b kept inplace, about a rear horizontal axis 33 in such a way that a space forthe passage of the front roof part 3 is created above a stationary rollbar 32 located there. As a result of the fact that the rear window 6 wasfirst moved down into the tailgate 12, the swiveling movement can takeplace without obstruction by the window 6. The movement of the roof part3 is then carried out as described above by first moving out the driveelement 18 (transition from FIG. 11 to FIG. 12) to initiate the upwardswiveling movement of the roof part 3 about the axis 19 in the directionof arrow 21 and to cause the parts 3 a and 3 b to fold about theseparating line 8.

Here again, in this process, the linkages 14, 15 at first are not yetswiveled about their bearings 16, 17, which are fixed with respect tothe automobile body. The bearing 24 still maintains its position, asdoes the pivot axis 19, until the flip-over position of the roof part 3b as shown in FIG. 5 has been reached.

This position of the movable roof part 3 corresponds to the positionshown in FIG. 9, except that now the rear roof part 5 is open to createa passage for the further lowering of the roof part 3 into theautomobile body. For this purpose, the links 14 a and 14 b becomeoriented more steeply relative to each other, i.e., the angle betweenthem at the joint 24 becomes smaller. At the same time, the section 15 aswivels about the axis 17 opposite the direction of arrow 23 out of theposition shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 13, so that the angle between thesections 15 a and 15 b is decreased, and at the same time the anglebetween sections 15 b and 15 c is increased. With the link 14 bswiveling about the axis 24, the stack of roof parts 3 a and 3 b is thusalso swiveled into a nearly vertical position (FIG. 14), and, as themovement continues (FIGS. 15 and 16 and FIGS. 6 to 8), the stack of roofparts 3 a and 3 b then swivels into a position that approaches ahorizontal flip-over position of the roof part 3 a. In this position,the roof part 3 is then held horizontally or obliquely below the roofpart 5, which can then swivel back into its original position about theaxis 33 (FIG. 8). Accordingly, a targa-top vehicle is formed accordingto FIG. 8. In this position, the rear roof part 5 is in the sameposition as when the roof is completely closed (FIG. 1). In analternative vehicle or even in the same vehicle, depending on thedesign, it is also possible for the rear roof part 5 to be (optionally)lowered below the belt line 31 over the stack of the front roof part 3to form a full convertible.

A stationary and thus less expensive roll bar 32 can be used on thebasis of the lowering kinematics. Moreover, in the illustratedembodiment, the roll bar 32 is covered by the rear roof part 5 in everyposition of the roof—and thus in every lowered position of the movableroof part 3—and is thus visually inconspicuous and invisible from theoutside.

1. Motor vehicle (1) with a roof (2), which has at least one part (3)that is fully movable to allow the roof to be opened, that extends froman area adjacent to a windshield frame (4) to a rear, especially rigid,roof part (5), that occupies the entire width in the transversedirection of the roof between the upper edges of the side windows (7) ofthe motor vehicle (1), and that comprises a foldable linkage thatincludes lateral frame parts (10; 11), wherein the movable roof part(3), together with its linkage, can be folded and in its completely openposition, can be lowered completely above the rear roof part (5), whichhas remained unmoved compared to its closed position.
 2. Motor vehicle(1) with a roof (2), which has at least one part (3) that is fullymovable to allow the roof to be opened and that extends from an areaadjacent to a windshield frame (4) to a rear, especially rigid, roofpart (5), especially in accordance with claim 1, wherein in itscompletely open position, the movable roof part (3) can be loweredoptionally above or below the rear roof part (5).
 3. Motor vehicle inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the movable roof part (3) has a textilecovering.
 4. Motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rearroof part (5) is in the same position in each fully opened position ofthe movable roof part (3) and in the fully closed position of themovable roof part (3).
 5. Motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1,wherein the rear roof part (5) can be lowered below a belt line (31) ofthe automobile body.
 6. Motor vehicle in accordance with claim 1,wherein the rear roof part (5) covers a rigid roll bar (32).
 7. Motorvehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rear roof part (5) is atleast partially movable to create an opening for the passage of themovable roof part (3) to allow the latter to be lowered below the rearroof part (5).
 8. Motor vehicle in accordance with claim 7, wherein therear roof part (5) can be swung open at least partially about a rearaxis (33) to create an opening for the passage of the roof part (3) andcan be swung closed again over the lowered roof part (3).
 9. Motorvehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rear section (27) of themovable part (3) can be raised while the roof part (3) remains otherwiseclosed.
 10. Motor vehicle in accordance with claim 9, wherein the rearsection (27) can be moved into and out of its raised position while thevehicle is traveling.
 11. Motor vehicle in accordance with claim 9,wherein to allow the rear section to be raised, a roof bow (27) isprovided which grips beneath the rear section and is displaceablymounted on lateral frame parts (11) of the movable roof part (3).